March Birthstone: Aquamarine

Q: What is the birthstone for March?

The modern March birthstone is Aquamarine. The traditional stone is Bloodstone.

Modern birthstone Aquamarine

Traditional birthstone Bloodstone

Colour Pale blue to sea green

Birth flower Daffodil and Jonquil

Zodiac signs Pisces, Aries

Hardness (Mohs) 7.5–8

March is one of the clearest splits between the old and new lists: bloodstone held the month for centuries before aquamarine took over in the twentieth century. Both are still considered correct.

Note the split: Aquamarine is the modern choice, while Bloodstone held the month in the older list. Both are still considered correct, so if you were told a different stone growing up, that is probably why.

March stones in detail

Aquamarine

Composition Beryllium aluminium silicate (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈) — beryl coloured by iron

Hardness · Crystal system 7.5–8 · Hexagonal

Mined in Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar, Pakistan, Zambia

Same mineral family as emerald. The difference is the trace element: iron makes aquamarine, chromium makes emerald.

Traditionally linked to calm communication and steadiness under pressure.

Care. Warm soapy water. Ultrasonic is usually safe, but not if the stone has visible inclusions.

Spotting a fake. Blue glass and blue topaz are the common substitutes. Aquamarine is pleochroic — tilt it and the blue shifts between blue and near-colourless. Glass does not.

Bloodstone

Composition Chalcedony (cryptocrystalline quartz) with inclusions of red iron oxide

Hardness · Crystal system 6.5–7 · Trigonal

Mined in India, Brazil, Australia, Scotland

The red spots are iron oxide, not blood — but the resemblance drove nearly all of its folklore.

Traditionally carried for courage and endurance, particularly by athletes and soldiers.

Care. Warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals, which dull the surface.

Spotting a fake. Dyed jasper is sold as bloodstone. Genuine bloodstone has irregular, uneven red flecks; dyed material shows colour concentrated in cracks.

March birth flowers

Daffodil

Traditionally signifies new beginnings and unequalled regard.

Jonquil

Traditionally signifies desire and returning affection.

If you go by zodiac sign instead

March spans two signs — Pisces and Aries — and the zodiac stone list does not match the monthly one. Which applies to you depends on the day, not just the month.

Pisces stones · Aries stones

Questions about the March birthstone

What is the birthstone for March?

Aquamarine in the modern list. The traditional stone is Bloodstone.

What colour is the March birthstone?

Pale blue to sea green.

What is the March birth flower?

Daffodil and Jonquil — signifying new beginnings and unequalled regard.

Is it hard enough to wear every day?

Aquamarine sits at 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale. Fine for daily wear, though it will pick up scratches over years in a ring.

Other months

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